Oh yes, just because you've seen a couple of bad posts about them on DT... A lot depends on how they were used, installed and tuned.

 

The STS is a fine machine but don't get me wrong. If you don't have proper install skills, or they aren't important to you "chitty" is what you will get. If you are mechanically inclined then I doubt you'd be disappointed with the STS.

 

From what I've seen on various forums and from seeing used STS kits on ebay, the people who install them ask too much of a stock short 5.7 short block and it fails. Too much boost, usually coupled with not quite good enough tuning will equal scattered parts. If you can be satisfied with 6-7 psi boost, stock 5.7's seem to hold together fine. Anything more and you're better off starting with a 6.1 block. As for turbo or blower, what is it going to be used for? If you need the low to mid-range grunt, then a blower will give it right off idle. If you have plenty of low end grunt and/or you keep smoking the tires on launch and need more mid-range to high RPM power, then the turbo is the way to go.